Don McDowell
Member
Rl15,ramshot biggame, 4895,748 are all good powders in the 30-30.
30-30 spire point loading data wanted
- Thread starter savagefiend
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You can find load data for Hogdon, IMR and Winchester powder here
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp
You can find load data for Alliant Powders here (reloader series et al.)
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx?gtypeid=2
A Pause for the Coz
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Although I am not opposed to tinkering. I do lots of it.
I think the Hornady solution would be the best one for what you want.
They already put the testing work in.
LEVERevolution® FTX®
The leverevolution powder does in fact give you about 100 fps increase in velocity for the same pressures.
And the FTX bullet gives you the benefit of the spire point, but still expands at 30-30 velocities.
Plus your not over seating the bullet to get it to fit. Its designed for the 30-30.
My self. my 30-30's are brush guns. So the tried and true 150 - 170 fp's perform well enough.
If I need to reach out and touch some thing at 200 yards.
I take the 308
I think the Hornady solution would be the best one for what you want.
They already put the testing work in.
LEVERevolution® FTX®
The leverevolution powder does in fact give you about 100 fps increase in velocity for the same pressures.
And the FTX bullet gives you the benefit of the spire point, but still expands at 30-30 velocities.
Plus your not over seating the bullet to get it to fit. Its designed for the 30-30.
My self. my 30-30's are brush guns. So the tried and true 150 - 170 fp's perform well enough.
If I need to reach out and touch some thing at 200 yards.
I take the 308
I have also been trying to put this one together for my contender. But I cannot find the bullets or the powder. Ammo craze still has it's grip on the reloading supplies.
So I was thinking about working on a load with 3031 just because I might be able to find it.
James2
Member
Ya, these days, you may not find the powder you want. TAC, VIHT N-135, IMR 3031, H335, IMR 4064, AA 2250, RL-15, Win 748, BL-C2 and perhaps others can be used in the 30-30. Hope you find something.
One of my old manuals even gives a load for Unique with cast bullets. For additional ideas look online at the powder manufacturers sites.
One of my old manuals even gives a load for Unique with cast bullets. For additional ideas look online at the powder manufacturers sites.
NCsmitty
Member
The fact is that component shortages are like I have never seen before, and procuring the popular items remains difficult.
Wideners is showing the new Alliant powder, 1200-R in stock, as well as Power Pro 2000-MR.
Alliant data shows a load for the 30-30 using 1200-R with a 150gr bullet.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...?gtypeid=2&weight=150&shellid=78&bulletid=132
The 1200-R will work in the 222-223 size cases, as it's designed for the 223. It may not be the ideal powder, but it will work across the platforms that you have, and that's what counts.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=2&weight=50&shellid=45&bulletid=227
The Power Pro 2000-MR shows a burn rate similar to H380.
NCsmitty
Wideners is showing the new Alliant powder, 1200-R in stock, as well as Power Pro 2000-MR.
Alliant data shows a load for the 30-30 using 1200-R with a 150gr bullet.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...?gtypeid=2&weight=150&shellid=78&bulletid=132
The 1200-R will work in the 222-223 size cases, as it's designed for the 223. It may not be the ideal powder, but it will work across the platforms that you have, and that's what counts.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=2&weight=50&shellid=45&bulletid=227
The Power Pro 2000-MR shows a burn rate similar to H380.
NCsmitty
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savagefiend
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i like the leverevolution bullets but there are nearly impossible to find where i am at and are highly cost prohibitive to plink with and shoot varmits. Plus from the research i have done I can get the bullet I want for about half of what it costs for even federals at the store. A press isn't a problem for me because I have a few friends close by that have them. plus I was looking and lee makes a collet die set for 30-30 which neck sizes so my cases i have will now be fire formed to my rifle and should provide me with some great accuracy.
BluegrassDan
Member
My opinion...
If you were just target shooting, a spitzer bullet could make sense, especially if loaded one at a time negating the magazine OAL issue. But for hunting, there are far more issues as many have pointed out. One guy killing one deer with an ill suited round is not a large enough sample.
Compare:
.30-30 150 grain muzzle velocity 2,400 fps (if you're lucky), 1,900 fps at 100 yards, 1,500 fps at 200 yards.
.308 Win 150 grain muzzle velocity 2,800 fps, 2,600 fps at 100 yards, 2,300 fps at 200 yards.
So, YES, bullet expansion WILL be an issue that you need to consider. You don't want to be crippling animals.
Hornady LeverEvolution is a very well formulated powder - better than IMR 3031 for the .30-30 in my experience. It is a blended powder with various sized granules, and it will allow you to get higher velocities without crossing the max pressure threshold. The neighborhood of 35 grains with the Hornady FTX 160 grain will drive tacks in the right gun at around 2,400 fps. The FTX BC of .330 is respectable enough.
Again, paper punching use whatever will fit, but for hunting stick with bullets designed for the intended velocities.
If you were just target shooting, a spitzer bullet could make sense, especially if loaded one at a time negating the magazine OAL issue. But for hunting, there are far more issues as many have pointed out. One guy killing one deer with an ill suited round is not a large enough sample.
Compare:
.30-30 150 grain muzzle velocity 2,400 fps (if you're lucky), 1,900 fps at 100 yards, 1,500 fps at 200 yards.
.308 Win 150 grain muzzle velocity 2,800 fps, 2,600 fps at 100 yards, 2,300 fps at 200 yards.
So, YES, bullet expansion WILL be an issue that you need to consider. You don't want to be crippling animals.
Hornady LeverEvolution is a very well formulated powder - better than IMR 3031 for the .30-30 in my experience. It is a blended powder with various sized granules, and it will allow you to get higher velocities without crossing the max pressure threshold. The neighborhood of 35 grains with the Hornady FTX 160 grain will drive tacks in the right gun at around 2,400 fps. The FTX BC of .330 is respectable enough.
Again, paper punching use whatever will fit, but for hunting stick with bullets designed for the intended velocities.
My dad has killed at least 5 deer with that load. Whatever bullets he recovered expanded just fine. Bet you there are plenty of other people who have killed plenty of deer with Spitzer bullets fired out of TC contenders and various other .30-30 rifles. Not to mention there are perfectly legal, and perfectly accepted rounds which are used every year to kill deer which are less powerful. Maybe some bullets won't expand...but the one that James and I suggested works JUST FINE
Of course there are people out there claiming that buck shot is not suitable for hunting deer as well.....
Plenty of evidence to say it is perfectly suitable.
Your ballistic extrapolation seems to be using the ballistic coefficient of a round nose bullet as well....
I punched your numbers into a calculator and with the Horandy Interlock 150 SP it was closer to
2250fps muzzle, 2011fps at 100 yards, 1792fps at 200 yards
2400fps muzzle, 2152fps at 100 yards, 1924fps at 200 yards
2800fps muzzle, 2526fps at 100 yards, 2275fps at 200 yards, 1926fps at 350 yards.
So I would say, if the .30-30 with those bullets isn't any good up to 200 yards, then the .308 isn't any good at 350 yards....
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So what are some good suggestions of spitzer bullets that will expand at....say 200-250 yards. I am sure that is the max for me.
I too would probably take my 270 if I knew I was taking that shot. But sometimes in the brush....if the trees and trails align just right, you might just get a shot like that. Not sure if I would take it...I like to think I would just pass..but you know if it's late in the season and I have been skunked...I might not be so patient.
So for me, I won't do much plinking and want the best possible bullet for my contender.
I was looking at the Nosler hunting tip (green) in 150 gr.
I too would probably take my 270 if I knew I was taking that shot. But sometimes in the brush....if the trees and trails align just right, you might just get a shot like that. Not sure if I would take it...I like to think I would just pass..but you know if it's late in the season and I have been skunked...I might not be so patient.
So for me, I won't do much plinking and want the best possible bullet for my contender.
I was looking at the Nosler hunting tip (green) in 150 gr.
The only one I can vouch for is the 150 grain Hornady Interlock. The 125 grains probably would probably be good too. I've heard that Speer actually had loading data for the .30-30 with some of their spire point bullets at 1 time., while warning not to use in a tube magazine.
The good thing about the Hornady is that tangent ogive, which gives a long flat surface to seat the bullet further into the case. Not sure how a ballistic tipped bullet would preform at lower velocity.
The good thing about the Hornady is that tangent ogive, which gives a long flat surface to seat the bullet further into the case. Not sure how a ballistic tipped bullet would preform at lower velocity.
R.W.Dale
Member
At 200-250 yds there's absolutely no need to resort to spitzers.
Learn the drop. Practice and a fn or rn will work just fine.
Otherwise a b-tip is what most contender guys use. A bullet that you cannot. I've used the 125g b tip from a 7.62x39 all the way out to 280yds with good effect
Learn the drop. Practice and a fn or rn will work just fine.
Otherwise a b-tip is what most contender guys use. A bullet that you cannot. I've used the 125g b tip from a 7.62x39 all the way out to 280yds with good effect
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
After 2 pages of this, my question is WHY? The 30-30 was developed 100 years or so ago and was not meant for killing deer out to 250 yards for the most part. It was used in a levergun with open sights by hunters back then who actually hunted and got close enough to take the game cleanly.
If you want to hunt deer out to 250 yards why not just use one of the hundred or so more suited cartridges available to us today chambered in inexpensive yet very accurate rifles?
If you want to hunt deer out to 250 yards why not just use one of the hundred or so more suited cartridges available to us today chambered in inexpensive yet very accurate rifles?
My answer is because I have contender rifle in 30-30 with 18" barrel. Built for a lightweight breakdown pack/brush gun. I can reload. I won't shoot it much and want to make the most of my setup.
Just another thing to consider...with that Nosler hunting tip...it's bright green. So that also kind of adds a safety element. Not much of one, sure. But it says...Hey I am different...bright green tip...don't load me in your lever.
I will probably just wait until I can get the Hornady flex tips and leverevelution powder. It's hard to resist the urge to build something right now. I have a few months before rifle season. I kinda want to use my 30-30. But won't on opening day for sure. It's one of those guns I would use when I am worn out from failing and my 270 starts to feel heavy.
wow, i see a LOT of everything here except help. just because a person wants to do something different, does not mean he is wrong. if that was the case, we ALL would still be shooting flint lock black powder rifles. no, "savagefeind" is not going to reinvent the wheel by shooting spitzers from his bolt action 30-30, but its not like he is asking for the formula to anthrax either. anyway, i have shot many spitzers, from my, don't pass out, MARLIN LEVER GUN! as long as you use that big chunk of pink/grey goop between your ears, it can be done, with no one dying, or loosing body parts. you just can NOT load them into the tube magazine! anyway, i have shot 165 grain boat tail spitzers, using 31.0 grains of winchester 748, in R-P cases, using Winchester primers. 150 grain spitzers can use 150 grain round nose data, but if you seat the bullets deep, just remember to reduce the load several grains, and work up. i have also shot 180 grain boat tail spitzers from my marlin 30-30 as well. i will soon be loading a batch of 110 grain v-max's as well. 110 grain hollow points would not group well in my rifle at all. at one point, i seriously contemplated loading 220 grain round nose's in it also. but i came to the conclusion that even if i could get it to actually fit (which i could not), a large portion of the internal volume of the case would be taken up by the base of the bullet. which would reduce the powder charge to the point that the bullet would be so slow, that it would serve no practical purpose.
James2
Member
Um....... did you not read the first reply? There was the answer to his query.
Sorry, i stand corrected. it just bugs me when anyone asks a question, and gets hassled and pestered for doing something a little out of the ordinary. some of the greatest people in this world had strange idea's. if not for their own curiosity and persistence, many of the things we enjoy now would have never been invented, or even thought of. certainly, shooting spitzers from a 30-30 bolt action rifle is not going to reinvent the wheel. but it certainly is not a reason to heckle someone for doing something a little off the wall.
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